<div class="ExternalClass64AB9E3FDA5443B68BD39D6FC3F80284"><p>Metro Vancouver has created a Regional Homelessness Task Force in a bid to tackle a rise in tent cities and street homelessness across the region.</p><p>The task force, co-chaired by Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson and Maple Ridge Mayor Nicole Read, will work with Metro Vancouver and municipal staff to assess the homelessness crisis by accessing crucial data, such as estimates on the number of homeless in the region, as well as how many people are turned away from shelters on a regular basis.</p>
<p>It will also pull together the experiences of Metro Vancouver municipalities in dealing with tent cities and homelessness, while considering how many more permanent shelters are still needed to deal with the issue across the region.</p><p>Once the data is collected and analyzed, the task force will develop a set of recommendations to urge the B.C. government to immediately deliver permanent shelter and interim housing space next spring.</p><p>The task force is made up of six Metro Vancouver mayors and seven local government CAOs and will seek the advice and expertise of all member local governments, BC Housing, social service agencies, and the province of B.C. in the collection of data and development of reports.</p></div>

<div class="ExternalClassA67E2774269A45D593ED0549F2E1F30D"><p>​Metro Vancouver has created a Regional Homelessness Task Force in a bid to tackle a rise in tent cities and street homelessness across the region.</p></div>